Month: February 2011

Trophies After a long search that has taken him to several continents, Ricky “Pickles” Gunn has found the mythical Rocket and Hawker trophies that we believed were lost forever. Good work, Mr Gunn. Luckily the Bugle’s staff photographer was on hand at the decisive moment to take this exclusive picture.

Fixtures After an unfortunate fumble by Rob Johnson that saw the entire 2011 fixture list deleted, Paul Lassman has stepped in and sorted it out. See who’s playing who, when and where on this very website.

Club kit – If you want to look your absolute best for the first game of the season then today is the last day you can order new pants etc. All the details of how to order are on the website

As spring approaches and thoughts turn to the new cricket season, many players will be hoping to make an impact on the pitch. Maybe you dream of scoring a match-winning innings, or yearn to bowl faster than ever before. Perhaps you’re simply resolving to save runs in the field this year rather than giving them away.

Others still dream of winning the Scribbler of the Year Award because, let’s face it, while you may think you can score a century or take a five-for every other weekend the harsh reality is that you won’t. Ever. But for you, yes you, there is a foolproof way of making a mark in the Southgate CC archives – by writing a match report.

We can all read and write (insert own joke here) so there’s nothing to stop you winning the award kindly donated last year by Derek Honnor to celebrate the rich diversity of writing talent that lurks in the club.

And if you’re still not convinced, here’s champion scribe Patrick Robinson with some words of advice…

“As proud holder of the desperatelyinneedofapolish Scribbler of the Year trophy, I’ve been commissioned at no expense whatsoever to write a brief guide to producing a match report. In no particular order, this is what you must do

Don’t write too much about the cricket. It’s such a boring game. Eh? Oh.

The Big Society: your captain will greatly appreciate an offer to write the report. Alternatively, turn up last to the meet time and you may as well start jotting a few notes down on your way in.

Similes create visual images, succinctly helping to illustrate the point you are trying to make, eg chest hair like velcro (Singleton), batting with the urgency of a sloth (Robinson), as sharp as a beachball in the field (multiple holders…)

Make sure to mention notable moments from the match for posterity, 50s, five-fors, catches by Doug Gordon.

Unofficialawards can really engender a sense of belonging within a team, eg the Faisal Mir Award for Loyalty (Woffinden)

If your report doesn’t go down well with the masses, like any North African despot worth their salt/oil reserves, use force.”

Patrick Robinson 2011, all rights reserved, no copying, hands off

So what happens next? Well obviously you have to wait until a game has been played (although no one at Bugle HQ is ruling out the possibility of an entirely fictitious report being uploaded, or indeed winning the prize). All you have to do is file your reports to me – rhewit63@yahoo.co.uk – by 6pm on the Monday following the matches and they will appear as if by magic on this website soon afterwards. And if you’re very very good you may win the Scribbler of the Year Award 2011.

We’re delighted to announce that a Women’s One Day International will also be played at Southgate on July the 5th. The match between India and New Zealand is part of a quadrangular series also including hosts England and Australia who will be playing at Lord’s on the same day. I certainly know where I’d prefer to be playing and it’s fantastic for the profile of the club to have a match such as this on the ground.

Middlesex County Cricket Club return to Southgate on Sunday July the 10th with a mouth watering Friends Provident T20 clash against Somerset.

The Panthers who famously won the T20 Cup in 2008 will be up against a powerful Somerset Sabres line up who ended up runners up in all 3 domestic competitions in 2010.

With Captain Marcus Trescothick and Craig Kieswetter opening up for the visitors there may well be some fireworks, not to mention West Indian Kieron Pollard hit the roof of then MCC pavilion at Lord’s in the corresponding fixture last season.

It’s a real honour to host Middlesex again and they can expect good local support with excellent numbers expected for this Sunday afternoon event. If you fancy a quick peak at last seasons fixture click on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GyVhRAqHHE

On the weekend of April the 9th cricket clubs all around the country will be donning overalls, grabbing paintbrushes, gardening tools and rubber gloves for the biggest club renovation drive in World Sport!

This fantastic initiative is a new slant on the traditional preseason tidy up and NatWest Cricket Force is now in it’s 8th year. In 2010 1,642 cricket clubs took part producing an estimated 85,000 volunteers helping throughout the weekend. This year Southgate Cricket Club have signed up and all members are requested to come along and pitch in to get the club and ground looking as it should in time for the start of the season

At the recommendation of the newly reformed Ground’s Committee we will be joined by our fellow member clubs but it is really important that we as Southgate Cricket Club set the example and get involved in large numbers.

A quick look at http://www.ecb.co.uk/development/natwest-cricketforce will give you a great ight into the achievements of clubs all around the county who’ve jumped on the cricket force bandwagon. Not only have we already received our free T-shirts we also qualify for discounts on a range of useful items from bath tiles to tractors.

The guys who took part in last seasons tidy up will no doubt remember fondly the rippling torso of Matt Creese brandishing the electric hedge trimmer or Sage standing in a skip resplendent in his bomber jacket and this year’s event will be a an important start to our summer.

We start at the Walker 09:30 sharp so get there early to grab a tea, a tee-shirt and a bacon buttie and let’s make it a great day!

This is a new initiative to develop our young cricketers and bridge the gap between colts cricket and the senior end of the club. For more information contact Rob Johnson by email

rob.johnson@ecb.co.uk

Middlesex CCC at the Walker Ground

Southgate Cricket Club are delighted to welcome Middlesex CCC back to the Walker Ground in 2011. Somerset will be the visitors in a Friends Provident T20 match on Sunday 10 July. In what promises to be a tremendous showpiece event for the ground, Somerset are expected to field big hitters Marcus Trescothick, Craig Kieswetter and West Indian T20 superstar Kieron Pollard. Hopefully Middlesex will have access to their International players, we get a sunny day and a run fest!

We will be looking to members to get involved in making the day a success, this might be helping set up the ground, run the covers on and off, carrying Steven Finn’s spare size 14s from the car park! Please put the date in the diary as it promises to be a cracking day out and a huge opportunity for us.

Southgate v MCC

The biennial fixture against the Marylebone Cricket Club will be on Sunday 8 of May with a number of Southgate players expected to feature for the opposition who will be captained by Jeremy Dangerfield. Captain Johnson has confirmed that he will be representing the Trees over the Egg and Bacon and will be recruiting hard to ensure the home side gives the Club’a good run for their money in 2011.

Fixtures 2011

The Middlesex League Fixtures are now out and available at www.mcccl.com please see below the first XI league fixtures.

It’s time to dig out the cricket gear from where you dumped it last year, apply a damp sponge to your box, oil the blade and turn your attention to getting ready for the new season. Southgate Cricket Club runs winter nets every Tuesday night at Finchley from 9 to 10pm. It would be great to see old faces and new players showing up, but as places are limited please contact club captain Rob Johnson to secure a place, or just have a chat with him about the coming season. Contact Rob by email